Johnson's center covers 24,000 square feet and includes a 60-yard indoor sprint track, a synthetic turf field, a basketball court and weight room. He's also planning to open a 4000-seat outdoor stadium that could hold elite track events, even Olympic Trials.
Johnson charges $979 for 18 sessions, which last 90 minutes each. Participants get a physical assessment, a pair of Nike shoes and a vision and coordination test developed by Nike.
Since retiring from track, Johnson has done television commentary and trained college players for the NFL draft — his star pupil was LaDainian Tomlinson in 2001.
Johnson has also trained Chinese runners and expects other top athletes such as Olympic 400-meter champion Jeremy Wariner, who trains in nearby Waco, to drop by his new center. But mostly, he said, he'll work with kids from 12 to 18.
"We're not necessarily looking for the next great athlete. We're helping them to be better at whatever level they are," Johnson said. "How fast can you make him? Well, it depends on how bad he is when you get him. I can't promise anyone we can make them great, but we can make them greater."
If the Dallas center is a success, Johnson hopes to build others around the country.
